Question: How do I return to Linux text mode from Linux Desktop? - China DOS Union Forum

As everyone knows, Linux is a Unix-like operating system with a character-based interface, and Linux Desktop is a GUI program on top of it, just like Win9x. Today I installed Red Flag Linux 4.0 in VMWare, and after installation it automatically started into Linux Desktop. But at the same time I found that I had no idea how to get back to Linux mode: not only is there no shortcut like "Linux window" in the Linux Desktop start menu, there also isn't a "Return to Linux" item under "Shut down". Also, because it runs very slowly, it makes operation very inconvenient. And some programs (such as DOSEMU, etc.) seem unable to run in the Linux Desktop GUI (running them has no effect); it seems I have to return to pure Linux mode first. So, how do I get from Linux Desktop back to pure Linux?

Red Flag is trash, don't use it.
Don't install Linux in VMWare.
What is linux desktop? A bit confusing, take a look here:
http://learn.tsinghua.edu.cn/homepage/015450/x.html
<>

Hehe, Red Flag really isn't very good

What boss W means by linux desktop should be XWINDOW, right

If it enters graphical mode at startup, then you need to change /etc/inittab, changing
id:5:init:default:
to id:3:init:default: and after rebooting it should be fine

Is there any way to make the X-Window GUI run under pure DOS, like Win3.x/9x?

Take a look here:
http://www2.zzu.edu.cn/ie/newdos/dispbbs.asp?boardID=6&ID=1108

The following is quoted from Wengier's post on 2003-7-22 8:22:35:
As everyone knows, Linux is a Unix-like operating system with a character-based interface, and Linux Desktop is a GUI program on top of it, just like Win9x. Today I installed Red Flag Linux 4.0 in VMWare, and after installation it automatically started into Linux Desktop. But at the same time I found that I had no idea how to get back to Linux mode: not only is there no shortcut like "Linux window" in the Linux Desktop start menu, there also isn't a "Return to Linux" item under "Shut down". Also, because it runs very slowly, it makes operation very inconvenient. And some programs (such as DOSEMU, etc.) seem unable to run in the Linux Desktop GUI (running them has no effect); it seems I have to return to pure Linux mode first. So, how do I get from Linux Desktop back to pure Linux?

6.1.2 Using Virtual Consoles with X
Even while X is running, you can access the Linux virtual consoles. To switch from graphical mode to a virtual console running in text mode, type Ctrl-Alt-F n, where F n is a function key and n is the number of the desired virtual console. X uses virtual console 7, so only virtual consoles 1-6 are accessible while running X.

To switch from a virtual console back to X, type Alt-F7. Nothing is lost when you switch from X to a virtual console or back, so you can move freely between the graphical and text operating modes.

6.1.3 Terminating X
As you learned in the previous chapter, you can terminate X by typing Ctrl-Alt-Backspace. X immediately terminates each program running under X, closes each open window, and returns your system to text mode.

This key sequence terminates X abruptly; most window managers support gentler ways of terminating X. You'll learn about these later in this chapter.

While X is running, you cannot use the Ctrl-Alt-Del sequence to reboot your system. To reboot your system, you can terminate X and then use the Ctrl-Alt-Del sequence, or access a terminal window and enter the command:

shutdown -r now
The shutdown command terminates X and then reboots your system.

So this so-called "Linux Desktop 4.0" turns out to be a packaged "Linux command line + X-Window GUI graphical interface + KDE window manager"!

The following is quoted from LanE's post on 2003-7-26 17:01:48:
W老大说的linuxdesktop应该是指XWINDOW吧

If it enters graphical mode at startup, then you need to change /etc/inittab, changing
id:5:init:default:
to id:3:init:default: and after rebooting it should be fine

This really is very similar to changing BOOTGUI=1 to BOOTGUI=0 in C:\MSDOS.SYS of MS-DOS 7.x to prevent DOS from automatically entering the Windows graphical interface after startup..

So it can be seen that Win9x is a GUI program under DOS, just like X-Win is a GUI program under Unix/Linux..

How can the X-Win GUI be ported to run under DOS? Isn't X-Win Open-source? I think for some experts it shouldn't be too difficult..

Floor1　Wengier	Posted 2003-07-22 00:00
系统支持　Posts 10,521　Credits 27,736
As everyone knows, Linux is a Unix-like operating system with a character-based interface, and Linux Desktop is a GUI program on top of it, just like Win9x. Today I installed Red Flag Linux 4.0 in VMWare, and after installation it automatically started into Linux Desktop. But at the same time I found that I had no idea how to get back to Linux mode: not only is there no shortcut like "Linux window" in the Linux Desktop start menu, there also isn't a "Return to Linux" item under "Shut down". Also, because it runs very slowly, it makes operation very inconvenient. And some programs (such as DOSEMU, etc.) seem unable to run in the Linux Desktop GUI (running them has no effect); it seems I have to return to pure Linux mode first. So, how do I get from Linux Desktop back to pure Linux?

Floor2　Sandy	Posted 2003-07-26 00:00
元老会员　Posts 157　Credits 608
Red Flag is trash, don't use it. Don't install Linux in VMWare. What is linux desktop? A bit confusing, take a look here: http://learn.tsinghua.edu.cn/homepage/015450/x.html <>

Floor3　LanE	Posted 2003-07-26 00:00
银牌会员　Posts 648　Credits 1,835
Hehe, Red Flag really isn't very good What boss W means by linux desktop should be XWINDOW, right If it enters graphical mode at startup, then you need to change /etc/inittab, changing id:5:init:default: to id:3:init:default: and after rebooting it should be fine

Floor4　Wengier	Posted 2003-07-26 00:00
系统支持　Posts 10,521　Credits 27,736
Is there any way to make the X-Window GUI run under pure DOS, like Win3.x/9x? Take a look here: http://www2.zzu.edu.cn/ie/newdos/dispbbs.asp?boardID=6&ID=1108

Floor5　Roy	Posted 2003-07-26 00:00
管理员　Posts 1,633　Credits 4,869
*The following is quoted from Wengier's post on 2003-7-22 8:22:35:* As everyone knows, Linux is a Unix-like operating system with a character-based interface, and Linux Desktop is a GUI program on top of it, just like Win9x. Today I installed Red Flag Linux 4.0 in VMWare, and after installation it automatically started into Linux Desktop. But at the same time I found that I had no idea how to get back to Linux mode: not only is there no shortcut like "Linux window" in the Linux Desktop start menu, there also isn't a "Return to Linux" item under "Shut down". Also, because it runs very slowly, it makes operation very inconvenient. And some programs (such as DOSEMU, etc.) seem unable to run in the Linux Desktop GUI (running them has no effect); it seems I have to return to pure Linux mode first. So, how do I get from Linux Desktop back to pure Linux? 6.1.2 Using Virtual Consoles with X Even while X is running, you can access the Linux virtual consoles. To switch from graphical mode to a virtual console running in text mode, type Ctrl-Alt-F n, where F n is a function key and n is the number of the desired virtual console. X uses virtual console 7, so only virtual consoles 1-6 are accessible while running X. To switch from a virtual console back to X, type Alt-F7. Nothing is lost when you switch from X to a virtual console or back, so you can move freely between the graphical and text operating modes. 6.1.3 Terminating X As you learned in the previous chapter, you can terminate X by typing Ctrl-Alt-Backspace. X immediately terminates each program running under X, closes each open window, and returns your system to text mode. This key sequence terminates X abruptly; most window managers support gentler ways of terminating X. You'll learn about these later in this chapter. While X is running, you cannot use the Ctrl-Alt-Del sequence to reboot your system. To reboot your system, you can terminate X and then use the Ctrl-Alt-Del sequence, or access a terminal window and enter the command: shutdown -r now The shutdown command terminates X and then reboots your system.

Floor6　Wengier	Posted 2003-07-27 00:00
系统支持　Posts 10,521　Credits 27,736
So this so-called "Linux Desktop 4.0" turns out to be a packaged "Linux command line + X-Window GUI graphical interface + KDE window manager"! *The following is quoted from LanE's post on 2003-7-26 17:01:48:* W老大说的linuxdesktop应该是指XWINDOW吧 If it enters graphical mode at startup, then you need to change /etc/inittab, changing id:5:init:default: to id:3:init:default: and after rebooting it should be fine This really is very similar to changing BOOTGUI=1 to BOOTGUI=0 in C:\MSDOS.SYS of MS-DOS 7.x to prevent DOS from automatically entering the Windows graphical interface after startup.. So it can be seen that Win9x is a GUI program under DOS, just like X-Win is a GUI program under Unix/Linux.. How can the X-Win GUI be ported to run under DOS? Isn't X-Win Open-source? I think for some experts it shouldn't be too difficult..